Locked together on points in the Serie A standings, mid-table pair Como and Genoa will meet at Stadio Sinigaglia on Sunday, as two ex-Arsenal stars clash in the dugout.
Ahead of a game postponed by one day due to the Pope's funeral, both sides are essentially safe - and they still have some chance of snatching a top-10 finish.
Match preview
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All but confirming a second straight season in Italy's top flight, Como crushed relegation-threatened Lecce last time out, with rising star Assane Diao striking twice in a 3-0 away win.
Diao has now netted eight goals since making his Serie A debut in early January - only Capocannoniere favourite Mateo Retegui has scored more - as the Lombardy club's ambitious recruitment strategy continues to pay off.
After initially struggling to adapt on their return to the big time, Como comfortably sit 12th, having won their last three matches to virtually secure Serie A safety - they are now 14 points clear of the drop zone.
The subject of some interest from bigger clubs around Europe, rookie boss Cesc Fabregas is reportedly keen to stay put for at least another year, so the Lariani can already start planning for next season.
First, they aim to claim a top-half finish, and those hopes will be aided by playing three of their last five fixtures on home turf: currently on a four-game unbeaten streak in front of their own fans, Como pose a threat to most teams at the Sinigaglia.
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By contrast, Genoa's away record is not particularly impressive, with just four wins and 11 goals from 16 league games on their travels.
Shortly after scoring a last-gasp leveller in November's reverse fixture - making it three straight draws against Como - ex-Rossoblu boss Alberto Gilardino was sacked, and their subsequent revival under Patrick Vieira has been impressive.
The French coach now meets his former Arsenal colleague Fabregas, with their teams level on 39 points and facing a stress-free end to the season.
After all Serie A fixtures on Easter Monday were postponed for a period of mourning following the death of Pope Francis, Genoa's most recent game was switched to Wednesday, when they lost 2-0 to Lazio.
Suffering just a fifth home defeat of the season - and the first this year - Sebastian Otoa was sent off midway through the first half at Marassi, giving the Grifone little chance of stopping visitors still seeking a top-four finish.
Nonetheless, they remain in contention for a once improbable top-half spot, trailing 10th-placed Torino by four points - but losing in Como would surely end those ambitions.
Team News
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Prematurely concluding a superb debut season in Serie A, Como's Spanish forward Assane Diao has sustained a foot injury in training and will be sidelined for two months.
Cesc Fabregas is also missing Sergi Roberto and Alberto Dossena for the rest of the campaign, while Alex Valle was forced off during the win in Lecce, and Maximo Perrone must serve a one-match ban - but the hosts have a well-stocked squad to compensate.
Perhaps the Lariani's leading light so far, Real Madrid loanee Nico Paz has registered six goals and six assists since moving to Lombardy last summer, and the Argentinian star should join Jonathan Ikone, Gabriel Strefezza and Tasos Douvikas in the final third.
Meanwhile, Genoa's absence list features Maxwel Cornet, Caleb Ekuban and Hugo Cuenca, while Ruslan Malinovskyi is still struggling with a leg injury.
Furthermore, influential midfielder Fabio Miretti is set to have shoulder surgery so will not return this season, and Sebastian Otoa serves a suspension for his dismissal against Lazio.
In Miretti's absence, Brooke Norton-Cuffy was handed a rare start in midweek, but Jeff Ekhator, Alessandro Zanoli and Junior Messias are all in contention to support Andrea Pinamonti and Vitinha up front.
Como possible starting lineup:
Butez; Vojvoda, Goldaniga, Kempf, Moreno; Caqueret, Da Cunha; Ikone, Paz, Strefezza; Douvikas
Genoa possible starting lineup:
Leali; De Winter, Bani, Vasquez, Martin; Frendrup, Masini; Messias, Thorsby, Vitinha; Pinamonti
We say: Como 1-0 Genoa
As Como are an increasingly formidable force at the Sinigaglia - and Genoa struggle to score away from home - the hosts should prevail by a slim margin.
Cesc Fabregas is set to get the better of old teammate Patrick Vieira, who he effectively replaced at Arsenal, taking his team three points clear of their opponents.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
